foundthatthosewhoscored highest
onintelligencetestsalso scored high
onhumourability– andthey report-
edhavingmoresex.Thisconfirmed a
widebodyofliteraturethat suggests
that“humourisnotjust a reliable
intelligenceindicator... but may be
oneofthemostimportant traits for
seekinghumanmates.”
Being funny ensures that only the
cleverest, fittest and most creative
people procreate, helping safeguard
the survival of the human race.
If a healthy sense of humour can
make you smarter, sexier and happi-
er, then one thing is clear: finding
time in your day for a good joke or
two is no laughing matter.Ina 1920prototypeofReader’s Digest, film legend Charlie Chaplin shared the
surprisingminimalistcraft that went into his Hollywood hits. “To make an
audienceroaristheambition of many actors, but I prefer to spread the laughs
out.It ismuchbetterwhen there is a continual ripple of amusement, with one or
twobig‘stomachlaughs’, than when an audience ‘explodes’ every minute or two.
‘Restraint’isa greatword, not only for actors. Restraint of tempers, appetites,
desires,badhabits,andso on, is a mighty good thing to cultivate.”CharlieChaplin’s Good Humour Theory
Whencomedyis
puregold:Charlie
Chaplin’sclassic
TheGoldRushPHOTO: GET T Y IMAGES40 april 2020
READER’S DIGEST